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From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Range safety system
Message-ID: <780@kitty.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 2-Feb-86 23:09:35 EST
Article-I.D.: kitty.780
Posted: Sun Feb  2 23:09:35 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 7-Feb-86 08:19:43 EST
References: <313@tellab3.UUCP>
Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY
Lines: 26

> ...  With Khadaffi threatening terrorism in America, it just makes
> me afraid that the shuttle would be a prime target for an attack.  I hate
> to consider this as a real possibility, however, so someone in the know,
> please prove this wrong!

	In view of the present "situation" between the U.S. and Libya,
sabotage was the very first thought which crossed my mind upon learning of
the shuttle disaster.  Within the first 60 seconds of launch, the shuttle
not only provides an immense infrared signature which even the most
unsophisticated heat-seeking surface-to-air missle could not miss, but
is within range of several varieties of such a man-packed missile.
	In light of all the data disclosed by NASA, this seems now to be
improbable as the actual cause of the disaster.  I would assume that NASA
and the U.S. military was aware of this possibility prior to launch, and
maintained some type of surveillance of the land and water area surrounding
the launch site; I don't suspect that NASA or the military will comment on
their precautions for security reasons.  However, a well-concealed person
with a man-packed SAM within range, but off the NASA base would be difficult
to detect...

==>  Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York        <==
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